These easy desserts from Classic Cake's chef are perfect for Valentine's Day

View full sizeStaff photo by Kristie RearickChef Robert Bennett, owner of Classic Cake in Washington Township and Cherry Hill, puts the finishing touch on a simple chocolate mousse inside the bakery on Hurffville-Crosskeys Road, Friday.

Nowadays everyone is busy.

But making your special someone a sweet treat on Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be complicated, said Executive Chef Robert Bennett of Classic Cake in Washington Township.

“You can start by making a simple shortbread cookie that doesn’t even need a mixer,” he said.

Step inside the bakery on Hurffville-Crosskeys Road and you’ll be greeted with an array of Valentine’s Day desserts on display, from red velvet cupcakes to chocolate-dipped strawberries and chocolate truffles. It’s obvious Cupid’s arrow didn’t miss its mark here.

Bennett, a long-time pastry chef at Le Bec Fin, knows how important it is to save time and money, so he offered some easy, affordable recipe ideas that anyone can share with a sweetheart.

Behind the display case, Bennett rolled up his sleeves and got to work on the simple shortbread cookie.

“Just get your hands into it,” he said as he creamed together the butter, sugar, flour and salt. A mixer will add a lot of air into it that you don’t need, Bennett said.

Once the dough is fully formed, add the vanilla.

“The vanilla has a wonderful perfume that enhances the cookie,” he said.

View full sizeStaff photo by Tim HawkA Valentine's Day cake at Classic Cake in Washington Township is shown above with chocolate mousse.

After the dough is chilled, it’s time to roll it out. When rolling out the dough, Bennett suggested placing wooden dowel rods — which you can pick up at a hardware store — on either side of it.

“The dough will roll out perfectly every single time,” he said.

Use anything you want to cut them out, Bennett said; even the base of a champagne glass will do the trick. After the cookies are cut out, put them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes. Decorate the cookies with colored sugar or ice them if you want.

Simple chocolate mousse is another uncomplicated, yet decadent, recipe from the chef. A mix of heavy cream, semi-sweet chocolate and lightly whipped cream, this dessert is a great way to end a romantic meal.

Bennett, who “always had a sweet tooth” growing up, also blames his dad, a master chemist for ChapStick, on his passion for pastry. He would tour the plant where his dad worked intrigued by the science and creativity that went into his dad’s job.

“I guess it’s in my blood,” he said.

A graduate of the New England Culinary Institute and a faculty member there for years, Bennett is also a master chocolate maker.

And there are plenty of his confections available at the bakery as well.

“We have a nice variety of chocolates,” he said.

For those customers who don’t want to try making their own desserts, Classic Cake has plenty to choose from.

The special Valentine’s Day menu includes Chocolate Ecstasy, devil’s food cake layered with dark chocolate mousse with a chocolate glaze on top; small chocolate-covered cheesecakes, creamy New York-style cheesecake covered in a chocolate ganache and Valentine’s cupcakes, vanilla or chocolate, topped with buttercream and decorated with a red rose.

View full sizeStaff photo by Tim HawkA cupcake for your Valentine is shown.

RecipesShortbread Cookies

12 oz. butter, softened

1 cup 10X sugar

3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine butter and sugar.

Stir in flour, salt and vanilla.

Mix thoroughly.

Chill.

Roll 1/4 thick. Cut heart shapes.

Bake 350 F. approx. 12 minutes

This recipe is also good for using with your favorite cookie press.

Simple Chocolate Mousse

1 pint of heavy cream, brought to a boil

semi-sweet chocolate

1 pt. heavy cream, whipped soft

Pour boiling heavy cream on top of chocolate to form a ganache.

Whip the second measurement of heavy cream to a soft peak.

When the ganache has cooled to room temperature, fold in cream and pipe into chocolate cups.